Gymnast Brinn Bevan admitted his pommel horse bronze medal was the perfect belated 18th birthday present.
Bevan, who was blowing out his candles on Tuesday, scored 14.200 points in the Saturday lunchtime final – with no penalties – to sneak onto the podium behind inaugural European Games champion Saso Bertoncelj of Slovenia and home favourite Oleg Stepko.
Though he can boast a series of junior honours, including winning gold at the European Youth Olympics in 2013, this was his first major international senior competition.
And the Benfleet-born star said his latest medal was the icing on the cake at the end of a week which also saw him place 14th in the individual all-round final.
“It’s a fantastic feeling,” said Bevan.
“It was a nervous and shaky pommel final but I managed to hold it together and it’s topped off a fantastic week for me; qualification, the all-around final and it was also my birthday.
“I didn’t think I was really in with a chance of a medal. It’s my first senior international up against all these big names so it’s been great just mixing with them. I didn’t expect a medal so I’m really chuffed.
“A few people before me made little mistakes so I knew if I went clean I had a chance – that’s what was on my mind. For me it was about trying to get through it and I’ve come out with a bronze medal so I’m really happy with it.”
In the women’s vault, 20-year-old Kelly Simm placed sixth in the final.
© Sportsbeat 2015